Steam engine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Q J. B. EADS.

I .STEAM ENGINE. .No. 349,573. Patented Sept. 21, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

JOHN B. EADS, OF MATTOON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR'OF ONEHALF TO CHARLES E.MCOLURE, OF SAME PLACE.

ENGlNE.

LSPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,573, datedSeptember 21, 1886. 7

Application filed April 6, 1886.

'" To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN B. EADS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Matt-con, in the county of Coles and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines; and I dohereby declare that'the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is aperspective view of my invention; Fig. 2, aside elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a detail view, on an enlarged scale, ofthe valve-operating mechanism; and Fig. 4, a transverse section taken online x w of Fig. 3.

The obj eet of the present invention is to provide a simple andeffective means for converting motion in steam and other engines,wherebyless friction is produced in transmitting the power to the main shaftthan by a crank, a more perfect and certainaction of the mechanism foroperating the Valves is obtained, and the general construction of thedevice rendered more practicable, which objects I attain by theconstruct-ion substantially as shown in the drawings, and hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the cylinder secured to themain shaft B, which has its bearings in a suitable frame, 0, a suitablebelt-pulley, D, being secured to one end of the shaft, to which power iscommunicated from the engine. A spiral groove, a, is formed on theperiphery of the cylinder A, and is continuousand of such shape as topresent a long curve on the return-stroke of piston-rods.

I employ two cylinders, E F, connected together, for double engines,both, cylinders transmitting their power on the one and same deviceoneat dead-point and one at quarterstrokeone piston having a forward motionwhile the other piston has a backward motion, thereby working in perfectharmony with each other without any of the usual gearing or connection,except as hereinafter described. The employment of a second cylinderenables it to be used as an automatic brake, and by Serial No. 198,031.(No model.)

I applying the two cylinders to the same device it can be usedsuccessfully on locomotives.

The pistonrods I) c of the cylinders E F have on their outer ends heads(I e, from which projects a suitably-shaped pin to engage with thegroove a in the cylinder A. The head cl has grooves in its ends to fitover guides g, and the head 6 is rabbeted to fit between similar guides,h, so that the heads and piston-rods to which they are attachedaregnided in their reciprocating motion.

The cylinders E F at their sides are provided with steam-chests G H,respectively, the valvestems z it being thus near in line with the mainshaft, which by means of certain mechanism moves said valve stems. Thismechanism consists of two grooved blocks, I K, each having an elongatedslot, Z, through it, and extending from its axis to near the peripheryof the block, as shown in Fig. 1. The main shaft B extends through theslots in the blocks, and the latter are pivotally connected thereto inany suitable manner that will admit of the blocks having a rockingmotion, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, the slots or openings throughthe blocks also being of such form as to allow of this motion.- Theposition of. the blocks I K is controlled by means of a shifting frame,L, operated by a suitable handlever, M, or any other desirable orwell-known means.

The valve-stem i has connected to it a lever, m, which is pivoted to anarm, 'n, the lower end of said lever being suitably connected to a rod,N. A similar rod, 0, is attached to the valve-stemk, and the rods areflat-sided and pass through correspondingly-formed holesin the shiftingframe L, to guide them in their movement. The rods N 0 at their freeends are provided with pins 0, the pin of the rod N engaging with thegroove of the block I, and the pin on the rod 0 engaging with the grooveof block K.

The shifting frame L is suitably mounted on a support, 1?, and byshifting the frame or sliding it in the proper direction, as indicatedin dotted lines, Fig. 3, the end 12 of the frame and the partition 1will be brought against the sidesof the blocks I K, respectively, andbring themto the position shown in dotted lines.

This change in position of the blocks will bring the grooves thereof inan opposite angle to what they previously were.

As the cylinder A revolves motion is imparted to the piston-rods b c bymeans of the continuous spiral groovea, and pins on the heads d e, whichengage with the groove. The grooved blocks I K being connected to themain shaft B of cylinder A, as hereinbefore described, the blocks arecarried around with the shaft as it rotates, and the grooves in theblocks being at an angle to aperpendicular will impart to thevalve-stems i 70 a reciprocating motion by means of the connections between the valve-stems and blocks.

The mechanism above described for operating the valve-stems possessesmany advantages, it superseding the link reverse motion, dispensing withthe usual rock-shafts and arms,- and all other appliances ordinarilyused, thereby greatly reducing the friction.

The blocks K I may be formed tapering in cross-section, as shown, or anyother desirable shape found best adapted to the purpose, and may beconnected to the main shaft 13 by any well-known means that will admitofthe blocks having a rocking motion on theshaft, in order to changetheangle of the blocks and grooves therein to give valve motion. Thevalve-stems z'k may also be connected to the blocks K I in anywell-known manner that will give to the stems the required reciprocatingmotion as the blocks are carried around by the rotary shaft;

It is obvious that many minor changes may 7 be made in the severaldetails of construction without departing from the principle of myinvention; and I reserve the right, therefore, to make such changes ascome within ordinary mechanical skill. The cylinder A is increased indiameter, whereby" the continuous spiral groove a is allowed amorecircular return, thereby avoiding the sharp return at the deadpoint.

If preferred, a governor can be applied to the lever used for shiftingthe position of the grooved blocks, thereby adjusting the steam directin the cylinders.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a steam-engine, two steam-cylinders and steam-chests connectedtogether, in combination with a cylinder having a continuous spiralgroove and mounted on a rotary shaft, meansfor connecting thepiston-rods of the steam-cylinders with the groove, and a shiftingmechanism constructed and operating substantially as shown, andconnecting the rotary shaft with the valve-stems, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

2. Ina steam-engine, blocks having grooves on their'periphery andpivoted to the main shaft of the engine, as shown, whereby they willhave a rocking motion thereon, in combination with rods connected to thevalvestems and provided with pins to engage with the grooves on theblocks, and-a shifting frame for operating the blocks, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed mynamc inthe presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. naps.

\Vitnesses:

R. G. Ownns, O. E. MCCLURE.

